2025 RECAP | The Itana Digital Economic Zone in Nigeria Now Hosts 50 Companies with 50% by African Diaspora

Itana is positioning itself as the 21st-century successor to Nigeria’s traditional, oil-heavy free trade zones. By leveraging a 35-year-old legislative framework (NEPZA), Itana provides a stable ‘policy island’ designed specifically for the digital economy, remote work, and high-growth startups.

Out of approximately 52 licensed free economic zones in Nigeria, only 22 are apparently active with many launched during a period of strong economic growth in the country between year 2000 – 2014 when the Nigerian economy was growing at an average rate of 6-7% in annual GDP with some years seeing double-digit growth.

Unlike these other zones, Itana is different. Speaking to TechCabal, Nkechi Oguchi, Chief Community Officer at Itana, said:

“Most of the regular special economic zones were designed for traditional businesses like oil and gas, manufacturing, and heavy industry.

Itana is designed for a different set of businesses: startups and service-based companies that need intentionality in building an environment that is suitable for them.”

FUNDING | Nigeria’s Itana Raises $2 Million to Build a Digital Free Zone for Local and International Businesses

What is Working

Itana’s ‘Success’ is defined by its ability to insulate tech companies from Nigeria’s structural friction:

• FX Sovereignty: Companies can hold multicurrency accounts, collect revenue in USD, and repatriate 100% of capital without the typical CBN bottlenecks.
• The “One-Stop” Interface: Itana acts as a buffer, handling all interactions with the CAC, FIRS, and Immigration, reducing months of ‘regulatory headache’ into a streamlined process.
• Aggressive Tax Incentives: Members are exempt from the 30% Corporate Income Tax, 7.5% VAT (including imports), 2.5 – 10% Withholding Tax, 3% Tertiary Education Tax, and 10% Capital Gains Tax, alongside duty-free equipment imports.
• Duty-Free Imports: Companies can import equipment and tools duty-free making early-stage scaling less capital intensive.
• Virtual Presence: Unlike traditional zones, Itana allows companies to register in the zone while operating anywhere in Lagos, solving the ‘commute problem’ for digital teams.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS | Itana Digital Economic Zone Invites Applications from Founders, Businesses, and Professionals

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